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Willem Brouwer
September 4, 1935 - June 20, 2015
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<div itemprop="description">BROUWER - Willem Jacob <br />September 4, 1935 - June 20, 2015 <br /> <br />Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church we will celebrate a beloved husband, incredible father, amazing Opa, special uncle, brother and good friend. <br /> <br />William (Bill) leaves behind his wife Gerda of 58 years, six children: Sigmund (Cindy), Marcella (John), Geraldine, Marina (Mike), Robert (Janet), Lisa (Jim). Fifteen grandchildren: Kerri Lynn (Brian), Colette (Darren), Justine (Derek), Peter John (Cali), Billy, McKenna, Teagan, Sarah, Nikki, Olivia, Savannah, Alfreda, Samantha, Jayse &amp; Jakob. Five great grandchildren: Delaney, Isaac, Charlie, Emersyn, Ellie &amp; Judah. <br /> <br />William was born in Magelang, Indonesia to parents Simon and Grietje. He had four brothers and two sisters. As a young child William spent three difficult years in a Japanese concentration camp. He lost his father during that time. After returning to Holland, in his late teens he entered the Dutch Military for mandatory service. It was here that he was fortunate enough to meet and marry the love of his life, Gerda. William and Gerda married on March 5, 1957. They then set sail to a new life in Alberta, Canada. During his working years, William was a heavy-duty mechanic, eventually opening his own shop &lsquo;Scope Automotive&rsquo; until his retirement in his late 60&rsquo;s. <br /> <br />Raising six children was Bill&rsquo;s joy. He spent every summer taking his kids camping, hiking and fishing. He loved looking for dinosaur bones in the badlands and teaching his kids all sorts of things. They would follow him anywhere with complete trust, even past the &ldquo;do not enter&rdquo; signs to swim in their underwear at the base of Ram River Falls. He was their hero. <br /> <br />Wim&rsquo;s family meant everything to him. He loved being needed . His days were spent doing any tasks imaginable from major renovations to fixing cars, plumbing, electrical, building decks, sheds and fences, planting flower beds . . . . anything for his wife, children and grandchildren. He was a brilliant planner and saw all his jobs through. <br /> <br />William was non-judgemental, humble, kind and humorous. He loved chuckling at his own jokes. With never a bad word about anyone, he was a constant encouragement to his family. <br /> <br />Bill had a special bond with each child and grandchild, be it a special handshake, pet name or inappropriate farewell greeting that was uniquely Bill. He never said, &ldquo;I love you&rdquo; and you always knew that he did. <br /> <br />Bill will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. <br /> <br /></div>